A/N: See, one week, just like I promised! So this is really two chapters, but there was just no good way to split it up. I'll still update next Sunday, but don't expect it to be this long!
Disclaimer: SM owns all things recognizably Twilight, I own G.G. and this particular plot.
/&/
Alice pulled up in front of Charlie's house and turned off the ignition.
"Are you coming in?" I asked.
"Umm, I stay here…Charlie didn't tell you?" Alice's face fell and she eyed me with trepidation.
"I though he said Jacob Black's girlfriend was staying with him…" I trailed off when Alice got a silly sappy smile at the mention of Jacob. "You're Jacob's girlfriend?" I couldn't keep the shock from my voice, from what I remembered of both of them, they seemed like complete opposites.
"Well, fiancée now," she trilled, blushing a little, "He's working on our house, but until it's ready I've been staying with your dad. Billy's house is too small for me, but I already gave up my apartment in Port Angeles."
"Huh," was the only response I could muster.
We'd reached the front door and as I put my hand on the knob to open it, the door flew backwards.
A much taller, much more muscular Jacob Black than I remembered was standing in front of us, hair braided and tied with ribbons, sparkles smeared on his cheeks.
I couldn't hold back the giggles at the sight of the girly accessories and his petulant face.
"You are never leaving me alone with her again, she uses that pout and I agree to stupid, demeaning things just to make it go away," he seethed, shaking a finger at Alice.
Alice was red in the face and I know I heard at least one snort as she tried to hold in her laughter.
"G.G. I'm back, and I brought Bella!" she sang out, her voice still trembling slightly from mirth.
I held my breath, nervous about she would react upon seeing me. I had, for all intents and purposes, abandoned her after I'd promised to always be there.
"Bella!" she screamed, running around the corner from the kitchen and launching herself at me. She was almost as tall as Alice and the weight of her nearly knocked me on my butt. "I just know you can fix everything!" she cried excitedly into my ear.
"What is it I'm trying to fix?" I asked her, trying to move further into the house with the weight of her still wrapped around me.
It seemed like she had completely dismissed all the years I'd been gone, picking up right where we left off.
She finally released my neck from her stranglehold, only to grab my hand in both of hers and drag me into the living room.
"Jazzy is going to run away with me!" she exclaimed, "And you have to stop him!"
"Wait, back up, why is he running away with you?" I asked her, my confused gaze jumping from G.G.'s face to Alice's as she entered the room.
"Jasper and G.G.'s mom passed away about a month ago, and for a while we thought it would be fine, that Jazz would just get custody of G.G. because he's over 18 and has a steady job, but about two weeks ago this woman from social services started coming around and asking questions," Alice explained.
"And now she thinks that since Jazzy works a lot and I'm an 'impressionable young girl,' she should take me away from him and put me with a foster family," G.G. interrupted.
I raised an eyebrow at the "impressionable" comment and Alice was quick to explain; "We know Jasper never did any of the things people say he did, but not everyone believes he's the decent guy we know."
"That's ridiculous," I huffed, "He is her family and he's been taking care of her for years!"
"True, but he didn't always work at the factory legally, so employment records don't show him working until after graduation." Alice pointed out.
"So now Jazzy thinks that we should just take all the cash we have and change our names and run away before they take me from him," G.G. flung herself on the couch after her impassioned statement, her face a mask of tragic despair.
"And I can stop this?" my heart was sinking as I realized the monumental task before me.
"I know you can, you were the first person to convince him to accept help, and he always listened to you," G.G. gazed at me hopefully, her eyes shiny with unshed tears.
"Has he checked with a lawyer?" I asked desperately.
"Jazz can't afford one, and we don't exactly have a legal aid office in an area this small," Alice explained.
"Let me think on it, I'm sure I can come up with something," I conceded, sure that with time and the proper research I could help. "Does Jasper know you're here?' I asked her, wondering how they had gotten her here to tell me all this.
"Oh, yeah, I watch G.G. whenever Jazz works, he has a regular day shift Monday through Friday, but he works a 12 hour day on Sundays," Alice told me, "His neighbor was just getting too old to handle all energy this girl produces." She nudged G.G. with her foot and winked at her playfully.
"He's gonna be here any minute!" G.G. exclaimed, "What are you gonna say?"
"Does he know I'm here?" my mouth was dry and my heart was playing a crazy African drum beat against my chest.
"Well…" Alice hedged, looking at me nervously.
"I thought it would be a nice surprise," G.G. looked at me through her eyelashes, pouting her lower lip out, and I knew immediately what Jacob had been talking about. That face made me want to fix every problem in her world.
"What would be a nice surprise?" a low voice drawled, startling us all.
Jasper stepped into the room, his face hardening as his eyes found mine.
"Jasper, you scared…" Alice started, but he cut her off.
"What is she doing here?" he asked softly, his voice at complete odds with the venomous look on his face.
"Can we talk?" I asked quietly, my eyes straying from his face to G.G.'s. Her lower lip trembled and she looked on the verge of tears.
Jasper nodded tightly, standing perfectly still as Alice grabbed G.G.'s hand and practically dragged her from the room.
"G.G. told me your mom died," I spoke into the heavy silence, "I'm sorry."
"Are you?" he mused, his voice detached.
"She," I took a deep breath and started again, "She told me about the social worker, and about your plan to run away."
He stiffened, his body taut with tension, "She should learn to keep her mouth shut," he snarled.
I gaped at him for a moment, not sure how to react to this side of him.
"I'm doing it for her," he told me fiercely, "So that she can be with me, I'm her family; I know what's best for her."
"Jasper, you can't think this is a good idea," I pleaded with him, "Let me help you find another way."
"You? Help me?" he snorted, "So that you can wriggle your way into our lives and then leave us again?"
I gasped, feeling a very physical pain in my chest at his bitter words. Jasper was…harder even than he'd been in high school, and he was obviously still upset over my departure from Forks five years ago. Not that I could blame him.
"I…" my voice cracked and I tried to swallow past the lump in my throat, "I'm sorry…"
"Me too," he said softly, the angry lines of his face falling into a mask of defeat.
The ghosts of our past hovered in the room, oppressive. I had no idea what I could possibly say to make up for what I done, to make him believe that I wouldn't…couldn't abandon him again.
Jasper stared out the window, shoulders slumped in defeat, and I steeled myself for battle as I walked over to him.
"I know you're mad at me, but we aren't the same people we were five years ago. At least, I'm not, and I won't leave again. I'm not going to let you risk your future, G.G.'s future, without a fight. I will find a way out for you. You don't have to believe me, but you do need to give me time. I think you owe me that at least. Just don't do anything right now, give me a month to figure something out." I pleaded, my body vibrating with the need to comfort him.
"I owe you?" he hissed incredulously. His hands clenched into fists and he turned to face me, glaring down into my face.
"Yes, because we are friends, and friends give each other second chances," I glared right back, hoping he couldn't see the nerves that made my knees tremble and my mouth dry.
His eyes glinted dangerously with an emotion I didn't recognize, and I backed away from him slightly, worried for the first time that I wouldn't be able to help him. Until this very moment I had been sure (well, relatively sure) that I would find some sort of solution to his problem and everything would end up alright. I had never occurred to me that he wouldn't allow me to help. He opened his mouth to say something when Charlie's voice interrupted us.
"Bella!" he called, "Look who I found wandering around town." Charlie stepped into the room, followed closely by Edward.
My heart, which had been racing, ground to a screeching halt. Shock immobilized me as my gaze frantically darted between Edward and Jasper.
Edward smiled tentatively at me, stepping forward and introducing himself to Jasper.
"Edward Cullen," he stated formally, extending a hand to Jasper.
"Jasper Whitlock," Jasper replied, taking Edwards hand and squeezing firmly. I saw their muscles flexing and knew that both of them had just tried to break each other's hands. After the incredible tension of the last twenty minutes I found the idea that Edward and Jasper felt the need to compete with each other much funnier than normal.
A choked noise that was half giggle, half sob escaped me as I watched them.
"I'll give you two weeks, not because I owe you, but because I owe G.G.," Jasper told me quietly before exiting the room to collect G.G. and head home.
Charlie watched Jasper's retreating figure, a bemused look on his face.
"Well kids, I've got things to do," he said finally, breaking into the silence. I nodded at him mutely as he headed upstairs.
I risked a glance at Edward and he quirked a questioning eyebrow. He stepped forward and folded me into his arms. I sighed, reveling in his familiar embrace. Despite knowing that he and I were no longer in a relationship, there was an indescribable comfort that came from the knowledge that on some level we both still loved and cared for each other.
"I need a drink," I mumbled into his chest.
Edward let out a huff of laughter, "Where does one go for a drink in this one-stoplight town?"
"Hey, we have three stop-lights, thankyouverymuch!" I protested playfully, punching him lightly on the arm as I put some distance between us, thankful that he had broken the tension. "But we don't need to go out, unless Charlie's changed drastically, there should be a bottle of Jack in that cabinet," I pointed, and Edward crossed the room and retrieved the satisfyingly full bottle.
"Wanna see my room?" I asked waggling my eyebrows playfully.
Edward let out a rueful chuckle and followed me upstairs and into my room. I settled on my bed, and he sat gingerly on my ancient desk chair. I cracked open the bottle, taking a healthy swig before handing it to him.
I watched him take a mouthful and grimace at the burn before I spoke, "So you wanna tell me why you're here instead of in Cali with Kate?"